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SOOPA encourages Special Olympics athletes to become Certified Oficials

мая 31, 2011

The Special Olympics Officials Program for Athletes (SOOPA) encourages Special Olympics athletes who have mastered a sport to become certified officials. Just as a retired professional athlete might eventually become an official in his or her sport, the Special Olympics Officials Programs for Athletes enables Special Olympics athletes to do the same.

Athletes as Officials

SOOPA pairs an athlete with an experienced Special Olympics official to complete the certification process through a sport’s national governing body (NGB) or international sports federation (ISF). Since SOOPA began in 1991, athletes have attained certifications through International Softball Federation (ISF), Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIBA), International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), among others.

Expanding Their SkillsIn addition to officiating Special Olympics competitions, certified athlete officials are also eligible to officiate competitions sponsored by the sports governing body through which they are accredited. The SOOPA program provides an avenue for athletes to expand their social skills, increase community involvement, and build self-esteem. In addition, since SOOPA participants are certified by a sport’s governing entity, the program creates new employment opportunities.

FIFA Gets InvolvedRecently, former Fédération International Football Association (FIFA) referees and Special Olympics supporters Mario Sanchez of Chile, Javier Castrilli of Argentina, and Felipe Ramos Rizo of México conducted a football official certification in Mexico, where Special Olympics Mexico athlete Javier Soto, was certified. Soto will join six other athletes from Paraguay, Chile, and Bolivia to officiate the 2011 Copa America in Paraguay.

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Young people from around the globe with and without intellectual disabilities are coming together at the SOGenUin Summit as part of the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games with one goal - to change the world.